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Wollongong Named as Host City for 2019 IFAF Men’s World Championship

Gridiron Australia is pleased to announce that Wollongong (NSW, Australia) will host the 2019 Men’s World Championship of American Football at the iconic WIN Stadium beside the Pacific Ocean.

From Tuesday 23 July – Monday 5 August 2019, 8 teams representing member nations of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) from around the globe will gather in Wollongong for the Men’s World Championship - an international American football competition held every four years.

Local gridiron player, Jordan Stalker, is thrilled that the World Championships will be coming to his hometown of Wollongong. In 2012 Jordan was selected to play on the World Team at the 2012 IFAF International Bowl where they historically beat the USA 35 -29. Later that year he represented Australia at the IFAF World U19 Championship Qualifier. Jordan received a full scholarship at the Division 1AA FCS College Gardner Web where he played Offensive Tackle from 2013-2016.

Darrin Mitchell, Gridiron Australia Chairman, is ecstatic to be able to host this event in Australia. "The City of Wollongong is an ideal location for us to showcase the game of American Football to Australia and promote Australia to our international friends. Gridiron Australia looks forward to bringing our game to the picturesque WIN Stadium and supporting the Illawarra region".

Australia has participated in several of the previous IFAF World Championships and the 2019 event will mark the 20th anniversary of IFAF international competition with the first tournament held in 1999 in Palermo, Italy.

IFAF Oceania Chairman and Executive Board Member, Michael Ryan, is excited by the event and says that “It’s a tremendous opportunity to showcase the sport in Australia and the Oceania Region and we look forward to welcoming the world’s athletes “down under”.

Tickets will be on pre-sale on 1st February 2019 through Ticketmaster.